Electrical terminal assembly

ABSTRACT

An electrical terminal assembly having a terminal block mounting one or more conductor strips with exposed ends projecting beyond an edge of the block to provide terminals for attachment to wire leads. The inner end of each conductor strip has resiliently flexible portions separated by a narrow intervening gap aligned with a hole in the terminal block through which a second wire lead may be inserted into frictional gripping engagement between the corresponding strip portions. A second hole is provided in the terminal block for each conductor strip through which an implement, such as another wire, may be inserted to deflect one strip portion in a direction to release the second lead. The terminal block is composed of mating molded plastic block members which may be quickly and easily assembled in interlocking relation with the conductor strips to provide a finished terminal assembly.

United States Patent lnventor John T. has

535 W. Richardson Lane, Glendora, Calif. 91740 Appl. No. 805,647

Filed Mar. 10, 1969 Patented June 15, 1971 ELECTRICAL TERMINAL ASSEMBLYPrimary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynnAttorney- Boniard l. Brown ABSTRACT: An electrical terminal assemblyhaving a terminal block mounting one or more conductor strips with ex'-posed ends projecting beyond an edge of the block to provide terminalsfor attachment to wire leads. The inner end of each conductor strip hasresiliently flexible portions separated by a narrow intervening gapaligned with a hole in the terminal block through which a second wirelead may be inserted into frictional gripping engagement between thecorresponding strip portions. A second hole is provided in the terminalblock for each conductor strip through which an implement, such asanother wire, may be inserted to deflect one strip portion in adirection to release the second lead. The terminal block is composed ofmating molded plastic block members which may be quickly and easilyassembled in interlocking relation with the conductor strips to providea finished terminal assembly.

PATENTEDJUNISIBYI 3585.570

46 36 4 WNW JOHN T .J v5

ATTORNEY ELECTRICAL TERMINAL ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to electricalcircuit aids and more particularly to a novel electrical terminalassembly.

2. Prior Art Many electrical circuits require the interconnection ofnumerous wire leads. Quite often, these interconnections are made byrelatively unskilled workers. I

A circuit aid which has been devised to assist making the properelectrical connections in circuits of the class described above is aterminal assembly or terminal strip. The terminal assembly or strip hasa number of terminal elements connected in pairs in such a way that twoleads may be quickly and easily electrically connected by attaching theleads to a pair of corresponding terminal elements. In the existingterminal assemblies, the terminal elements comprise screws around whichthe leads must be bent and/or projecting terminal strips to which theleads may be soldered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improvedelectrical terminal assembly of the general class described. Thisterminal assembly is uniquely constructed and arranged to permitattachment of leads to the assembly by simply inserting the bare ends ofthe leads through holes in an insulating terminal block. The leads whichare thus inserted are frictionally gripped by resilient portions ofconductor strips having ends projecting from the terminal block forattachment to other wire leads, as by soldering.

A terminal assembly according to the invention consists of a minimumnumber of parts which may be mass produced and assembled at high speed.As a consequence, the present terminal assembly may be produced at lowcost so as to be capable of economic competition with the existingterminal assemblies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of aterminal assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 in'FlG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a wire lead attachedto the terminal assembly; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the method of releasingthe wire lead from the terminal assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning to these drawings, thereis illustrated an improved electrical terminal assembly 10 according tothe invention.

This terminal assembly has a terminal block 12 constructed of electricalinsulating material, such as plastic. The terminal block illustrated iscomposed of two molded plastic block members 14 and 16 joined in face toface relation by interlocking means 18 which retain the block members inalignment. In addition to the terminal block 12, the terminal assemblyincludes at least one, and in this instance several, conductor strips20. Each conductor strip has an annular end 22 and an opposite outer end24. The inner end of each strip is positioned between the terminal blockmembers 14, 16 and is secured to these members in the manner to beexplained presently. The outer ends of the conductor strips projectbeyond the edges of the terminal block and are thus exposed externallyof the block. As shown, the conductor strips are disposed in spacedside-by-side relation along one or more sides of the terminal block. Theouter end of each conductor The inner end 22 of the conductor strip 20fits within a shallow conforming recess 26 in the inner face of theterminal block member 14 in such away that the strip is flush with theface. Interlocking formations 28 on the block member 14 and eachconductor strip 20 prevent the latter from pulling endwise from itscontaining recess. In the particular inventive embodiment illustrated,the interlocking formations comprise integral molded lugs 30 whichproject from the sidewalls of each conductor strip recess into notches32 in the edges of the contained conductor strip 20.

The inner end 22 of each conductor strip 30 has a longitudinal slot 34which opens laterally through one longitudinal edge of the strip betweenthe slot ends to define a pair of Iongitudinally aligned strip portions36 and 38. These strip portions are separated by a narrow gap 40. Eachconductor strip 20 is constructed of resiliently flexible metal and thestrip portion 36 is made relatively long to form a resiliently flexiblefinger. The free end of this finger is located adjacent the gap 40. Theopposite end of the finger is integrally joined to the conductor strip.The remaining strip portion 38 of each conductor strip is a relativelyshort stiff portion of the strip.

Extending through the terminal block member 14, in line with the gap 40of each conductor strip 20, is a hole 42. Block member 14 contains asecond hole 44 in line with each conductor strip finger 36. The oppositeterminal block member 16 has a cavity 46 aligned with and opening towardthe portions 36, 38 of each conductor strip 20. The finger portion 36 ofeach strip is bent at a slight angle toward and into the aligned cavity,as shown in FIG. 2. The opposite, relatively stiff portion 38 of eachconductor strip curves toward and into the aligned cavity with arelatively sharp arcuate bend.

As noted earlier, the block members l4, 16 of the terminal block 12 arejoined in face-to-face contact by interlocking means 18. In thisinstance, the block joining means comprise posts 48 which are integrallymolded on the block member 16 and fit snugly within holes in the blockmember 14. These posts also serve to retain the block members in theirillustrated aligned relation.

In use of the terminal assembly, first wire leads are soldered orotherwise joined to the exposed terminal ends 24 of the conductor strips20. The ends of second wire leads 50 are then inserted through theterminal block holes 42 into the conductor strip gaps 40, as shown inFIG. 5. These gaps, in the normal unstressed condition of their stripportions 36, 38, are slightly narrower in transverse width than thediameter of the terminal block holes 42. Accordingly, a wire lead havinga relatively close fit in these holes, when inserted to the position ofFIG. 5, will be frictionally gripped between the corresponding conductorstrip portions 36, 38. Because of their inclination away from theterminal block holes 42, end edges of the connector strip portions 36,38 will bite into the wire leads to effect the frictional grippingaction and prevent the leads from pulling from the terminal block. Aselected lead may be removed from the terminal assembly by inserting animplement 52, such as the end of another wire lead, through thecorresponding terminal block hole 44 and pressing the implement inwardlyagainst the adjacent conductor strip finger 36 to deflect the latter outof contact with the lead to be released. This releasing operation isillustrated in FIG. 6.

What I claim as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical terminal assembly comprising:

a terminal block of electrical insulating material,

a conductor strip having an inner end fixed within said block and anopposite outer end exposed externally of said block to provide aterminal for attachment to an external conductor,

said inner end of each conductor strip having spaced portions definingtherebetween a narrow gap, and said terminal block having a hole alignedwith and opening toward said gap and having a diameter slightly greaterthan said gap,

one of said strip portions comprising a resiliently flexible fingerhaving a free end adjacent said gap and an opposite fixed end inwardlyjoined to the respective conductor strip,

said terminal block having a cavity at the side of said conductor stripremove from said hole and opening toward said conductor strip portions,whereby a wire lead having a close fit in said hold may be insertedthrough the latter into said conductor strip gap in such a way that saidlead is frictionally gripped between said conductor strip portions,

said terminal block comprises a disposed in face-to-face contact,

said inner conductor strip end is positioned between said block membersand seats within a conforming recess in the inner face ofone blockmember,

said conductor strip and one block member have interengaging formationsfor locking said conductor strip to said terminal block, and

said interengaging formations comprise projections on the sidewalls ofsaid recess engaging in notches on the edges of said conductor strip,whereby said conductor strip may be inserted laterally into said recesswhen said block members are separated.

2. A terminal assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

said block members comprise molded plastic members having interengagingformations for retaining said block members in alignment.

3. An electrical terminal assembly comprising:

a pair of generally rectangular molded plastic block members joined inface-to-face contact,

a resiliently flexible conductor strip having an inner end positionedbetween said block members and an opposite outer end projecting beyondthe edges of said block members to form a terminal for attachment to anexternal conductor,

pair of block members said inner end of said conductor strip seatingwithin a conforming recess in the inner face of one block member flushwith said face,

said conductor strip and terminal block having interfitting formationsfor locking said strip against endwise movement from said recess,

said inner strip end having a longitudinal slot opening laterallythrough a side edge of said strip at a position between the ends of saidslot to define a pair of longitudinal strip portions having adjacentfree ends separated by a narrow gap,

one of said block members having a hole aligned with and openinginwardly toward said gap, and the other block member having a cavityopposite and opening toward said strip portions,

said strip portions being deflected slightly toward and into saidcavity, and one strip portion comprising a resiliently flexible finger,and

said gap being slightly narrower than the diameter of said hole, wherebywhen a wire lead having a close fit in said hole is inserted throughsaid hole into said gap, said lead is frictionally gripped between saidconductor strip portrons.

4. A terminal assembly according to claim 3 wherein:

said interfitting formations comprise integral molded lugs which projectfrom the sidewalls of said recess into notches in the edges ofsaidconductor strip,

said block members having inter engaging formations for retaining saidblock members in alignment, and

the block member with said hole having a second hole opposite saidfinger through which an implement may be inserted to deflect said fingerin a direction to release said lead.

1. An electrical terminal assembly comprising: a terminal block ofelectrical insulating material, a conductor strip having an inner endfixed within said block and an opposite outer end exposed externally ofsaid block to provide a terminal for attachment to an externalconductor, said inner end of each conductor strip having spaced portionsdefining therebetween a narrow gap, and said terminal block having ahole aligned with and opening toward said gap and having a diameterslightly greater than said gap, one of said strip portions comprising aresiliently flexible finger having a free end adjacent said gap and anopposite fixed end inwardly joined to the respective conductor strip,said terminal block having a cavity at the side of said conductor stripremove from said hole and opening toward said conductor strip portions,whereby a wire lead having a close fit in said hold may be insertedthrough the latter into said conductor strip gap in such a way that saidlead is frictionally gripped between said conductor strip portions, saidterminal block comprises a pair of block members disposed inface-to-face contact, said inner conductor strip end is positionedbetween said block members and seats within a conforming recess in theinner face of one block member, said conductor strip and one blockmember have interengaging formations for locking said conductor strip tosaid terminal block, and said interengaging formations compriseprojections on the sidewalls of said recess engaging in notches on theedges of said conductor strip, whereby said conductor strip may beinserted laterally into said recess when said block members areseparated.
 2. A terminal assembly according to claim 1 wherein: saidblock members comprise molded plastic members having interengagingformations for retaining said block members in alignment.
 3. Anelectrical terminal assembly comprising: a pair of generally rectangularmolded plastic block members joined in face-to-face contact, aresiliently flexible conductor strip having an inner end positionedbetween said block members and an opposite outer end projecting beyondthe edges of said block members to form a terminal for attachment to anexternal conductor, said inner end of said conductor strip seatingwithin a conforming recess in the inner face of one block member flushwith said face, said conductor strip and terminal block havinginterfitting formations for locking said strip against endwise movementfrom said recess, said inner strip end having a longitudinal slotopening laterally through a side edge of said strip at a positionbetween the ends of said slot to define a pair of longitudinal stripportions having adjacent free ends separated by a narrow gap, one ofsaid block members having a hole aligned with and opening inwardlytoward said gap, and the other block member having a cavity opposite andopening toward said strip portions, said strip portions being deflectedslightly toward and into said cavity, and one strip portion comprising aresiliently flexible finger, and said gap being slightly narrower thanthe diameter of said hole, whereby when a wire lead having a close fitin said hole is inserted through said hole into said gap, said lead isfrictionally gripped between said conductor strip portions.
 4. Aterminal assembly according to claim 3 wherein: said interfittiNgformations comprise integral molded lugs which project from thesidewalls of said recess into notches in the edges of said conductorstrip, said block members having inter engaging formations for retainingsaid block members in alignment, and the block member with said holehaving a second hole opposite said finger through which an implement maybe inserted to deflect said finger in a direction to release said lead.